Sheet-glass-bending apparatus



1,614,098 11 1927' L. D. BLACKSHERE ET AL SHEET GLASS BENDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 9, 1925 2 INVE N T [J H 5. Lewis D. Bloc/where c/Ohn L Bra/((2.,

AT I 5 Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. v

' LEWIS 1).. BLACKSHERE, OF CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA, AND JOHN L. DRAKE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOBS TO, THE LIBBEY-OWENS SHEET GLASS COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OI OHIO.

SHEET-GLASS-BENDING APPARATUS.

Application filed Februar -a, 1925. Serial No. 7,760.

The present invention relates to sheet glass drawing apparatus, and has particular reference to an apparatus for continuously drawing a sheet of glass from a mass of molten glass, and includes means for deflecting the sheet from one plane to another. v

An important object of the invention is to provide the combination with means for deflecting a semilastic sheet from one plane to another, of automatic controlling means for preventing the speedof the deflecting means from falling below a certain relation to the speed of the sheet being drawn.

A further object of the invention is to prevent serious injury to the sheet being drawn in the continuous drawing apparatus by providing, in combination with a deflecting means forbending the sheet from one plane to another, driving means adapted to automatically engage and drive the deflecting means when the rotation thereof has fallen below a certain speed. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sheet drawing apparatus wherein a sheet of glass is continuously drawn from a mass of molten glass and is bent over a bending roll and passes over an idler roll in a horizontal plane, and includes means associated with the idler roll for positively driving the same, said means being .associated with the bending roll to permit the bending roll to be driven by the sheet and for automatically positively driving the bending roll when the sheet fails to do so, and then automatically permitting the sheet to drive the bending roll again as soon as it will.

4 employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the appa- In the drawings wherein like numerals we provide automatic means for throwing the 1917. In the Colburn process a. source of molten glass 5 is present in a draw-pot 6 from which a sheet 7 is continuously drawn. 55 Knurl edge-engaging rolls 8 are provided to maintain the sheet to width and are arranged at the meniscus 9. The sheet 7 is drawn in a vertical plane for a slight distance where it is passed over a bending roll 10 to deflect the sheet into a horizontal. plane. The sheet passes over the bending roll 10 and idler roll 11, and on over the drawing table 12, and through a suitable annealing leer. The drawing table 12 is comprised of a plurality of links which form an endless belt construction operable by means of the sprocket or drum 13.

In accordance with the Colburn process the bending roll 10 is permitted to rotate with the sheet and is driven thereby so that the bending roll will rotate at the same speed as the draw of the sheet to prevent relative movement therebetween. The idler roll 11 is adapted to support the sheet between the bending roll 10 and the draw table 12. Although this roll is known in the art as an idler roll because of its use, it is positively driven.

In the ast, oftentimes the bending roll 10 has failed to rotate due to various reasons, and as a consequence the sheet 7 has separated from the source, thus making it necessary to start a new sheet over. again. In the old type of apparatus a manually operated clutch has been provided to positively drive the bending roll in such instance, but as the operator is not always in a pos tion to throw the manual clutching means into operation rapidly enough to prevent danger, such constructions have not proven satisfactory.

In the present invention it is our aim to clutching mechanism into operation when the speed of rotation of the bending roll has decreased to .a predetermined rate of speed, and also for automatically allowing the sheet to drive the same as soon as it can.

In the drawings is shown one form of construction which may be used. and comprises a form of ratchet wheel 14 which is carried by the bending roll 10. The ratchet wheel 14 is provided with "preferably the dove-tail projections, 15, so thatthey can be engaged y a suitable pawl or pawls 16 slower than the sprocket wheel 21.

when rotated in either direction. The pawls 16 are provided with the double-headed or T-shaped ends 17 so that they can be swung in either direction about the pivot pins 18 to engage either side of the dove-tail projections 15. Theipawls 16 are carried by and rotatable with a sprocket wheel 19, which has'engagement with a chain 20 which is trained over the sprocket wheel 21 carried by the idler roll 11. The idler roll is positively driven by means of the chain 22, de-

riving power from the sprocket wheel 23 which may be associated with the draw-table drum 13. Suitable adjusting means 24 are provided for adjusting the drum 13 and sprocket wheel 23. y

The drum 13 is rotated at a speed which determines the speed of the sheet 7 being drawn so that by suitable gearing the idler roll 11 may be drven at the same identical speed, thus preventing any substantial difference in the speeds of the sheet and idler roll. In the case of the bending roll however, it is desirable not to positively drive the same during the normal draw of the sheet as by positivelydriving the same the sheet is not as smooth and fiat as in the case where it is not positively driven. However, at the beginning of the sheet drawing operation and at times when the bending roll sticks for some reason, it is necessary to positively rotate the bending roll to prevent damage to the sheet being drawn.

To accomplish this themeans disclosed herein embodies the sprocket wheel 19 which has one tooth more than the sprocket wheel 21 so that it will rotate relatively sprocket Wheel 19 rotates at alltimes the sprocket chain 20 is trained over both of the roll has a tendency to fall below a certain wheels 19 and 21. However, as the sprocket wheel 19 rotates relatively slower than the sprocket wheel 21, and thus relatively slower than the draw of the sheet, the bending roll 10 and ratchet wheel 14 will rotate relatively faster than the sprocket chain, thus causing the pawls 16 to ride up anddown over the dove-tail projections 15, and not cau ng a positive drive of the said bending roll.

However, in the case where the bending speedof rotation, the pawls 16, being in engagement as shown in Fig. 3, will cause .the bending roll 10 to be rotated. It is true that the rotation of the bending roll will be slightly slower than the rate of speed of draw, but this slight variation in speed movement will not be sufficient to cause any serious difliculties with the drawing of the sheet or damage thereto. As soon as the bending roll has been worked loose again and obtained its natural rate of speed it The will again rotate freely in its bearings because of the slipping movement of the pawls 16.

The sheet is started by use of a suitable bait which is dipped into the bath of molten glass, and includes means for permitting the glass to adhere thereto. It will be seen to accomplish this the rotation of the bending roll must be reversed to its natural direction of rotati0n, so that the dove-tail projections 15 have been provided as well as the type of pawls 16. This will permit the bending rollto idle in either direction, and also to be positively driven in a similar manner.

The numeral 25 designates a plate-associated with the end of the bending roll 10,

and is used to spin the roll when it becomes dirty. Occasionally, dirt or other foreign matter becomes lodged on the roll, and unless it is removed this foreign matter may injure the surface of the sheet. The member 25, in such instances, is manually spun to remove such dirt. The bending member 10 is supported in the bracket 26 by means ortion 29 seated in a align itself. A flame guard-31 is carried.

by the bending member 10 to protect the bearing and associated parts from the flame f and heat used in softening the sheet when it is being deflected over said member.

Sprocket wheel 19 is carried by a sleeve 2 bearing 32, rotating on the sleeve 33 which is positively connected to the "end of the bending roll 10. The automatic clutch means normally idles on the sleeve 33, except when it is thrown'into automatic operation to positively drive the bending roll.

\Vith theabove type of construction in use, a great saving intime and expense will be had because the bending roll will be safeguarded against stopping, thus not causing serious damage and difiicnlty. The clutch being automatic will instantly take care of any unexpected change of speed of the bend- 5 I ing roll. so that the sheet can be continuously' drawn without constant attention on the 2 part of the operator as regards the speed of rotation of the said bending roll.

It will be seen that the automatic device .and that the positivedriving means will be automatically put intooperation as soon as the speed of the bending roll decreases to .a

certain speed. At the same time, as soon as the roll hasfworked itself loose so that. the sheetis capable of driving the same, the positive d rining means is automatically thrown out of engagement. i

lVith such a construction, the bending roll is rotated at all times by the sheet, except in cases of emergency whenit is necessary to positively drive the same to prevent damage to the sheet. Thus the greatest possible production of good glassis had.

'It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described ,is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

We claim:

1. In sheet glass apparatus, means for drawing asheet of glass from a mass'of molten glass, rotatable means for deflecting the sheet from one plane to another, and means for preventing the deflecting means from falling below a predetermined speed of rotation. f

2. In sheet glass apparatus, means for drawing a sheet of glass from a mass of molten glass, rotatable means for deflecting the sheet from one plane to another, and

' automatic clutch means for controlling the speed of rotation of the deflecting means.

3. In sheet glass apparatus, means for drawing a sheet of glass from a mass of molten glass, rotatable means for deflecting the sheet from one plane to another, and automatic means for preventing the deflecting means from falling below a predetermined speed of rotation.

4. In sheet glass apparatus, .means for drawing a sheet of glass from a mass 0 molten glass, means for-deflecting the sheet from one plane to another rotatable with and by the sheet, andmeans for positively I driving the defleetinganeans when the sheet fails to drive the same. A

5. In sheet glass apparatus, means for drawing a sheet of glass from a mass of molten glass, ineans for deflecting the sheet from one plane to another rotatable with and by the sheet, and automatic clutch means for controlling a positive driving means to be applied to the deflecting means when the sheet fails to rotate the same.

6. In sheet glass apparatus, means for drawing a sheet of glass from a mass of molten glass, means for deflecting the sheet from one plane to another rotatable with and by the sheet, positive driving means for driving the deflecting means when the rotation thereof falls below a predetermined.

speed, and automatic means for throwing the driving means into and out of engagement with the deflecting means.

7. In sheet glass apparatus, means for drawing a sheet from a mass of molten glass, a bending roll for deflecting the sheet from one plane to another, means for loosely mounting the bending roll to permit it to be driven by the sheet'as it is drawn, and automatic means for positively driving said bending roll when its speed of rotation be- .comes'less than the speed of the sheet.

bending roll.

9.. In sheet glass apparatus, means for drawing a sheet from a mass of molten glass, a bending roll for deflecting the sheet from one plane to another, an idler roll over which the sheet passes, means to drive the idler roll so that the peripheral speed thereof is substantially the same as the speed of draw of the sheet, means associated with the bending roll for driving the same relatively slower than the idler roll, and meansfor automatically throwing the said means into and out of operative .engagement with the said bending roll.

10. In sheet glass apparatus, means for drawing a sheet of glass from a mass of f molten glass, a bending roll, and means for permitting the roll to be idled or positively rotated in either direction, said means being entirely automatic and dependent upon relative speeds of said bending roll.

11. In sheet glass apparatus, means for drawing a sheet of glass from a mass of molten glass, a bending roll and means for permit-tingv the roll to be idled or positively rotated in either direction, the said roll beingpermitted to idle when it runs above a certain speed, positively drawn when it falls below a certain speed, and allowed to idle again when the speed has resumed its normal rate, the said means for controlling the bending roll being automatic in operation.

Signed at Charleston, in the county of Kanawha, and State of West Virginia, this 2nd day of February,'1925.

. LEWIS D. BLACKSHERE.

Signed at Toledo, in the county of Lucas,

and State of Ohio, this 6th day of February,

JOHN L. DRAKE. 

